My all time favorite top 8 pick of ASL "singers"

I wanted to take a second and share some of my all-time favorite ASL "singers". Anytime I get ready to translate a song into ASL one of my first steps is go to YouTube. You never know when there has been someone who has already been there/done that and did a banged up awesome job. Nothing like stealing someone else's ideas huh :) 

Seriously though- time saver when you can find a good translation. However they are pretty far and few between. Translating any song from one language to another gets tricky. The whole idea is to take the concept of the song and make it understandable in a different language. BUT one has to take into consideration all the phrases and play on words don't translate well (whether you're talking English to ASL, or Spanish to English or whatever).

Still every once in a while I hit the jackpot and today I want to share my 8 top picks.

Number 8: Based on shear numbers alone- currently Sophia has over 900 videos! I like her clarity and dedication to translating songs into ASL. Only thing I dislike is she does the same background for every video so after a few it gets old. But overall- good stuff!
http://youtu.be/yTlwHMQrgjg

Number 7: Ethan Cross: One of his first translations "By His Wounds" is one of my favorite songs (Third Day! woot). He's gotten better and better through the years but his music picks are now not my favorites. Still for his translations- not bad :)
http://youtu.be/MWe4fA63viE

Number 6: HandsActivated- She doesn't avoid songs that some people (like me) would. Hard to translate- she jumps right in a does a great job too.
http://youtu.be/Xwi5N9WZvyc

Number 5: The twins- Together one of the best ASL songs I can only assume that one or both of these guys are Deaf. Good luck trying to guess which one!
http://youtu.be/0mRUScKpYOY


Number 4 : Another great example of hearing who does a song great- she makes this song so fun to watch :)
http://youtu.be/GJesqvsFw9Y

Number 3: Sometime you get a hearing person who does a song so well that even if it doesn't make complete sense in ASL it just rocks! Here's one of the best:
http://youtu.be/wbU0V9LGIgw

Number 2: I've loved CodaCMoments songs for a  few years. I had the great pleasure of meeting his wife just recently too. Turns out he's coda from one of the biggest Christian Deaf families in the USA. He just is amazing to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-vci9DEv_4&list=PL76425E38AAB4AD72&feature=share&index=11

Number 1: Anytime a DEAF person can make a song come to life- I'm all over that. Even though Ronaldo does not have many songs done, the ones he has done are such great quality that its hard to put numbers over skill. I've gotten to meet Ronaldo in person a few times and love his passion for music. That passion is what makes him my all time favorite ASL singer. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qAGlb8RNwM&list=UUBwcKEB1ejHPCVra0NQaF7Q&feature=share&index=4

Cloth diapers 101- Types of diapers in ASL

Today I wanted to share a quick video I did on types of cloth diapers. It's not fancy, captioned, or voiced- sorry hearing friends! 

Just wanted to share a little about my love for cloth. 3 types I forgot to mention- contoured (similar to prefitteds but lack leg elastics), AI2 (just like AIO but with snap on inserts instead of sewn on), and flats (basically a square piece of fabric usually bamboo that you fold similar to prefolds. 

There are pros and cons to every diaper type. 

Prefolds, flats-

Pros: 

Inexpensive, easy to wash/dry

Cons:

Requires learning to fold, must use pins or snappis, not stay dry for baby, harder to use on a wiggly kid, must have a cover

Fitteds, contours, prefitteds-

Pros: no folding required, ease and sometimes less expensive

Cons: longer dry time, not stay dry (few fitteds do have stay dry options), must have cover

Pockets-

Pros: ease to wash/dry, ease of use (very similar to disposable diapers in shape), stay dry, some are OS (one size- adjustable to fit small, medium, and large babies all in one diaper), no cover needed (has outer layer of PUL). 

Cons: must stuff pockets with inserts (microfiber, bamboo, hemp, prefolds being the most common inserts), more expensive than prefolds/flats. 

AIO, AI2-

Pros: ease of use, no stuffing, no folding, stay dry, no covers

Cons: longer dry time, typically most expensive diapers. 

Covers can range from PUL covers to breathable wool and fleece. Wool and fleece are good year round (breathable and do not get hot in summer), wicks away moisture naturally and wool tends to be natural germ fighters. Any 100% wool can be used for covers- knit, crochet, even upcycled from wool sweaters. 

In future posts I hope to show some of my upcycled wool creations and eventually my knit works but for now- enjoy the video! 

http://youtu.be/afPrvENIO9c

Knotty business of knit and crochet

Knotty business it is learning to crochet and knit. 

About a year ago a friend began teaching me knit. I love it! My non-creative self thinks repetitive patterns are awesome. However since we bought our house my time has been spent doing house projects. 

Fast forward to this week- we had friends from out of state visiting. Friend 1 decided to teach me crochet (scarf). So off we go to the local craft store and get a crochet hook and about 500 colors of yarn (hey they were 40% off!). 

Lesson 1- not bad! Took me about 4 hours but pretty decent scarf.

By scarf 4 I could finish in about an hour. 

I think I just might use all 500 colors and buy more! But shhhh- don't tell my husband ;). Knotty knotty!!

No dumb questions?

So the other day I'm in local burger joint. I order the meal (using voice with my usual accidental ASL signs thrown in for good measure). 

Now I speak very well mind you. I was hearing till I was 10 yrs old so... 

So waitress looks at me with that quizzical look - you know the one- and I know all to well what's coming. 

"Do you know sign language?"

(Well yes I do that's why I was just using it). "Yes I'm deaf/hard of hearing/ or whatever I feel like replying with on the day in question" 

I brave for-  "oh that's neat! I'm learning sign too". 

Then she takes a left turn and shocks me- " Does it hurt to use your voice?"

(Me looking dumbfounded)... "Ummm no."  

Seriously not the brightest reply but I was stunned. Now they always say there are no stupid questions and I believe this wholeheartedly. However there might be a hall of fame for bizarre questions. I think this made the list. 

Do other hearing people think using your voice hurts? Maybe because Deaf people often sound awful so if it hurts your ears it must hurt their throats? 

I gotta say IF it did hurt to voice why on earth would I subject myself to such pain? Just so you can hear me speak?? 

No there might not be any stupid questions but there might be a few dumb ones. But don't worry- I'll try to keep the giggles inside till I get in my car- sweet lady. I know you just want to learn and for that- thank you for asking even the dumb questions :)